Chicago Bulls

Magic coaching search could depend on status of Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau

Published May. 4, 2015 3:10 p.m. ET

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Regardless of his current employment status with the Chicago Bulls or what the future might hold, coach Tom Thibodeau is a hot name on the NBA coaching carousel. With the Thunder hiring Billy Donovan last week, the list of potential jobs has narrowed a bit. But as long as the Orlando Magic are looking for a coach, Thibodeau's name will continue to pop up as a potential long-term solution in central Florida.

And it might not be a coincidence that Orlando's coaching search is taking so long while Thibodeau's Bulls are still in the postseason, as Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel writes.

"But many league observers think there are valid reasons for the seemingly slow pace of the Magic's coaching search.

"The theory mentioned most often revolves around current Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. The league observers speculate that the Magic want to see whether the Bulls and Thibodeau will part ways after the Bulls conclude their playoff run."

Thibodeau could be an excellent choice for a Magic team with so many young players with defensive talent. If Thibodeau were to maintain his current defensive philosophy, Victor Oladipo could fit the Luol Deng/Jimmy Butler role in the strong-side pressure defense quite well. 

On offense, Thibodeau has something of a reputation for developing point guards, and he'd have a potential superstar in the making with whom to work in Elfrid Payton.

Magic fans might need to be patient in their wait for a new head coach, then. And if you really can't wait, it probably won't hurt to root for the Cavaliers to eliminate Thibodeau's squad ASAP.

(h/t Orlando Sentinel)

Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch/USA Today Sports

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